Dear Partners,
Last month, I had the opportunity to represent Michigan at MOVE Australia in Sydney. It was a chance to share the work happening across our state and hear how transportation leaders elsewhere are approaching challenges we know well: putting new technologies to work and connecting more people to the services they need.
Across three panels and an international keynote, I discussed Michigan’s approach to advanced air mobility, connected and autonomous vehicles, transportation infrastructure and equitable transportation access. Our state’s experience testing in technologies with companies and community partners was central to what I shared.
Improving transportation access was an important part of those conversations, and October brought a significant investment in that priority here in Michigan. The state announced nearly $65 million in funding deployed through the Infrastructure Projects Authority Fund (IPAF) to expand public transportation and improve regional connections. For communities across Michigan, this funding will support better access to jobs, healthcare, education and the services residents rely on every day.
We also announced $1.7 million through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform to support 12 advanced air mobility projects, including medical deliveries and utility inspections. These projects give companies and community partners opportunities to evaluate how new technologies can meet practical needs.
These are the kinds of investments and experiences Michigan brings to the global mobility conversation. Sharing what we are learning, while learning from others, helps us build connections that can benefit our companies and communities.
Thank you to the companies, communities and partners helping make Michigan a place where mobility ideas can be tested and developed. I look forward to carrying that experience into November’s conversations and seeing many of you at upcoming events.
Justine Johnson
Chief Mobility Officer
What’s Happening in Michigan
Michigan Awards $1.7M to Advance 12 Air Mobility Projects
Twelve advanced air mobility projects will receive $1.7 million through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform to demonstrate drone technologies in real-world Michigan settings. Selected applications include organ and medical deliveries, power line inspections and building assessments.
Selected by the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) through a competitive process, the projects will help companies and their partners evaluate these technologies in operating environments and explore their potential for broader use. The awards advance Michigan’s statewide approach to advanced air mobility and build on its network of testing environments and public-private partnerships.
Explore the latest advanced air mobility awards
Michigan Invests $65M in Better Public Transportation
Michigan has awarded nearly $65 million through the Infrastructure Projects Authority Fund (IPAF) to expand public transportation and improve regional connections. Administered by the Michigan Department of Transportation, the fund supports new and enhanced services, restored service, and transit infrastructure improvements.
Projects include a new rural transit agency in Newaygo County, expanded service in Delta County, and railcar upgrades for the Detroit People Mover. Together, the awards will help residents in urban and rural communities reach jobs, healthcare, education and other essential services.
Read more about Michigan’s transit investments
Michigan Suppliers Explore New Mobility Markets
OFME Deputy Chief Mobility Officer Kathryn Snorrason delivered opening remarks at Vehicle Tech Week North America in Novi on Oct. 27. She highlighted opportunities for Michigan suppliers to apply their automotive engineering and manufacturing expertise to new markets, including advanced air mobility and maritime.
View the Vehicle Tech Week session details
Testing Medical Drone Deliveries in Traverse City
OFME Deputy Chief Mobility Officer Kathryn Snorrason joined Traverse Connect, Munson Healthcare, and regional partners for an Oct. 21 medical drone delivery demonstration in Traverse City. Supported through Michigan’s Advanced Aerial Mobility Activation Fund, the pilot is exploring how drones could move medical supplies and laboratory samples between healthcare facilities more efficiently, with potential benefits for rural communities.
Read more about Traverse City’s medical drone delivery pilot
Resources
Explore Funding and Testing Support in Michigan
Have a mobility technology ready for testing or deployment? OFME’s funding and testing resources help companies explore support through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform and connect with testing environments across the state.
Learn more about grant programs and facilities that can help your team evaluate a technology in Michigan and prepare for real-world use.
Explore Michigan’s Funding and Testing Resources
Engage With Us
View upcoming opportunities to meet our team and learn more about our programs, partnerships, pilots and plans for the future of mobility in Michigan.
Nov. 17, 2026: CoMotion NXT, Long Beach, California
Justine Johnson will join Switch Pitch: Decoding the ROI of Mobility Innovation, bringing a public-sector perspective to how mobility investments are evaluated. The panel will explore how investors and public funders weigh financial returns, strategic value, and public benefit, giving companies insight into what different funding partners look for.
Nov. 18–19, 2026: CoMotion LA, Los Angeles, California
On Nov. 18, from 1:30–2:15 p.m. PST, Justine Johnson will speak on Powering the Shift: Electrification Across Every Mode. The panel will examine the practical challenges of electrifying transportation, from fleet procurement and charging infrastructure to grid integration, and how operators can coordinate energy needs as more modes of transportation electrify.
Jan. 6, 2027: CES, Las Vegas, Nevada
Justine Johnson will speak on Autonomous Drones in Action at 11 a.m. PST in Las Vegas Convention Center West, W219. The panel will explore drone applications for emergency response and other critical operations.
